How do I retrieve files off my WinXP Desktop on a separate hard drive?

[James75]

My desktop crashed recently and I want to retrieve my files saved on drive C's WinXP desktop. In the past, I tried accessing the files on drive C using a separate installation of WinXP on another hard drive (let's tag it drive D) by going to "<drive C>\Documents and Settings\<my username>\Desktop", but the security features of WinXP didn't allow me to access the location.

I would like to retrieve the files now using my laptop with the help of a USB HD enclosure and I'm afraid I might run into the same problem. Is there any way for me to work around this "security feature" so I could retrieve my files? Any ideas or suggestions?

[PamJazz]

From the second hard drive location computer create a subdirectory and then set it as SHARED. Then, from the computer with files on DESKTOP, open two drive windows (My Computer). One drive window to the shared directory(destination), the other window to DESKTOP subdirectory. The PC and logged in User have access rights to this.
Use CTRL button (hold). Click and select all files you want to copy. Once they are highlighted either right click then select copy or just hit CTRL C. Place mouse pointer in destination Folder either by hitting right click again then paste or CTRL V. Or, after selecting all the files, right click and then send to USB drive.